Ansarallah's forces have just carried out one of their most important military offensives in recent years, breaking through the positions supported by Saudi Arabia along the western coast of Yemen and taking over territory that had not been able to be held despite Riyadh's airstrikes. The extent of their gains is not merely symbolic since they are now altering the control of the Bab al-Mandab corridor, the narrow passage which determines who has control of the Red Sea.
Western Coast: Collapse of Saudi‑Backed Forces
The reports from Al-Mayadeen and the Greanville Post regarding the pro-Saudi units show that they quickly and almost immediately collapsed from Hays to Al-Khokha and then to Al-Mokha, at the same time the Yemeni armed forces were able to take control of an estimated 2,550 square kilometres of coastal area.
The Saudi airstrikes failed to stop the advance since local Yemeni surface-to-air missiles caused the Saudi jets to withdraw from Taiz, thus allowing Ansarallah to have full control of the airspace over the main fronts.
Mocha Falls — Red Sea Leverage Shifts
The website Antiwar.com has confirmed that Mocha, the strategic port city close to the Bab al-Mandeb strait, is now in the control of Ansarallah. This brings them a step nearer to having control of the southern entrance to the Red Sea.
The leadership of Ansarallah maintains that navigation is safe with the exception of Saudi vessels and emphasizes that their forces are well-disciplined and not aiming at civilian shipping.
Saudi‑Backed Forces Retreat, Wounded Left Behind
Footage obtained at Mohammed bin Zayed Hospital in Al-Khokha depicts Saudi-backed fighters who were left behind during the withdrawal – this indicating how quickly their lines collapsed.
Taiz and Marib: Multi‑Front Pressure
While the western coast dominates headlines, Ansarallah is also pushing on other fronts:
Taiz: The Yemeni forces are strengthening their control of the elevated areas and the supply routes connecting Taiz with Mocha, for it is from these positions that control of the inland-to-coast route is determined.
In Marib, heavy artillery and drone swarms are being used to attack the government's defensive positions around the Balkh mountain range, which is the route to the Safer oil refinery—Yemen's last major hydrocarbon supply line that is under government control.
If Marib is lost, the internationally recognized government will lose its sole source of native revenue and Ansarallah will achieve complete energy self-sufficiency.
Saudi Airstrikes Intensify — But Fail to Reverse the Map
Saudi Arabia has carried out dozens of airstrikes—64 in 24 hours in the areas of Taiz, Hodeidah, Marib and al‑Jawf—using F‑15s manufactured in the United States and French Typhoons.
Yet Ansarallah is still moving forward, carrying out retaliatory strikes against Saudi military targets and repelling ground attacks in al-Jawf.
Why These Gains Matter
By controlling Mocha and the western coast, Ansarallah is able to exert influence over shipping in the Red Sea.
The progress made in Taiz blocked the supply lines that were supported by Saudi Arabia.
The government's economic survival is at risk due to the pressure being exerted on Marib.
Saudi airpower is proving less effective against Yemen’s new air defense systems.
Bottom Line
Ansarallah is gaining ground quickly and the forces supported by Saudi Arabia are having difficulty in holding on to any part of the western coast.
The power balance in the Red Sea is undergoing a change, and Yemen's military forces are in a position to determine the course of the next stage of the conflict.
